NFL

Replay officials were full-time employees, not replacement refs

By: The Sports Xchange 09/25/12 7:25 PM

The NFL ruled Tuesday that the result of Seattle’s controversial 14-12 victory over Green Bay on Monday will stand, even saying it supported the ruling of the replay official who confirmed the game-winning touchdown. The NFL’s statement elicited another round of reactions, including Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers calling the NFL’s explanation “garbage” during a radio program Tuesday, and Seahawks coach Pete Carroll saying it was “cool” the league confirmed the catch. Read More

49ers fall to Minnesota Vikings 24-13

By: The Sports Xchange 09/23/12 2:30 PM

It was nothing less than stunning, given that the San Francisco 49ers already were being considered NFL royalty and the Minnesota Vikings court jesters. But here it is: The San Francisco defense, so stout, was attacked, successfully, from the opening whistle. The Vikings defense, for two years an Achilles heel, stood tall, making stops, taking away the ball. And Christian Ponder? Well, the young Vikings quarterback was simply amazing. Read More

Niners still not respected nationally

By: Glenn Dickey 09/13/12 8:35 PM

Even though they went 13-3 in the regular season last year and nearly beat the New York Giants in the NFC Championship Game, the 49ers still don’t get the respect they deserve from the national media. The whole offseason we saw stories that essentially said the 49ers’ previous season was a fluke, that they wouldn’t be able to go through a season with so few injuries, that they wouldn’t be able to sneak up on teams this season. Read More

Hagan provides a boost to banged-up receiving corps

By: The Sports Xchange 09/06/12 8:54 PM

Help arrived for the Raiders’ injury-wracked corps of wide receivers in the form of a familiar face.Derek Hagan, who made the Raiders with a strong training camp a year ago, but was cut after six games in favor of T.J. Houshmandzadeh, was signed to a contract. Read More

McFadden confident he can succeed in zone scheme

By: The Sports Xchange 09/05/12 10:10 PM

Raiders running back Darren McFadden struggled during his first two years as he was affected by injuries. At the time, the Raiders were exclusively a zone blocking team, adding more gap and power schemes when Hue Jackson arrived as offensive coordinator in 2009. Jackson immediately went to McFadden to inquire about the plays he liked best and zone runs weren’t necessarily at the top of the list. The Raiders return to a zone scheme this year. Read More

Moss listed as starting WR for 49ers’ season opener

By: The Sports Xchange 09/04/12 10:32 PM

Wide receiver Randy Moss, who did not play at all last season, is listed as a starter for the 49ers’ opener on the team’s official depth chart. The 35-year-old Moss, who was signed as a free agent by the 49ers in March, will be paired with Michael Crabtree as the starting wide receivers against Green Bay on Sunday. Mario Manningham and Kyle Williams are the backups at those positions. Read More

Expect a whole lot more fireworks from Niners this year

By: Glenn Dickey 08/31/12 4:00 AM

Last year, 49ers fans were happily surprised by the team’s record. This year, the happy surprise will be a revitalized offense.Jim Harbaugh and offensive coordinator Greg Roman kept the offense basic last season for two reasons: 1) Quarterback Alex Smith was learning a new system — again! and 2) The 49ers didn’t have the receivers to open up the field. Read More

After falling just short of Super Bowl berth, 49ers back for more

By: Alexis Terrazas 08/31/12 4:00 AM

They didn’t have a prayer. Or that’s what the “experts” opined. “We all know [where] they thought we were going to finish last year,” Alex Smith said recently, “and how right they were about that.” The “they” whom the 49ers quarterback — who will enter his eighth season with San Francisco — was referring to were the slew of media wise guys who predetermined that the 49ers’ 2011 season was one destined for mediocrity. “They” were proven wrong. Read More

Top NFC teams have plenty to prove

By: Steve Drumwright 08/30/12 10:07 PM

They were called the Dream Team last year, having hauled in Pro Bowl players at a few positions and becoming the odds-on favorite to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl. But a funny thing happened to the Philadelphia Eagles. They didn’t mesh. After winning the opener, Philly lost four straight, then split the next four. The Eagles were toast after Week 10. Read More

Quarterback shuffle shakes up conference

By: Steve Drumwright 08/30/12 10:04 PM

New prodigy Andrew Luck is in Indianapolis, which forced a banged-up Peyton Manning to Denver, which led to golden child Tim Tebow going to the Big Apple. Read More